July 5, 2016

The District of Columbia Council
unanimously approved legislation (B21-650) to expand the District’s renewable energy target
to 50% percent by 2032.

The bill raises the bar from the
District’s existing 20%-by-2020 renewable energy standard. It would also
establish a "Solar for All” program designed to cut the electric bills of
100,000 low-income households in half by 2032 through the use of conservation
and clean energy resources.

The measure now moves to Mayor Muriel
Bowser (D), who is likely to sign it. While she has not endoresed this measure
specifically, Bowser has voiced support a 50% renewable energy goal set by former Mayor Vince Gray as a part of his Sustainable DC effort in 2013.

Legislation in the District of Columbia
could mean the nation’s capital will join the ranks of states with aggressive
renewable energy targets, such as California, New York and, more recently, Oregon.

The D.C. bill would also create incentives
for 1,500 MW of new solar and wind power, according to the Chesapeake
Climate Action Network (CCAN).

“Solar and wind are the fastest growing
sources of power, and D.C. is positioning itself to capture the benefits of
cleaner air, thousands of new jobs, and a better future for all residents,”
Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, said in a
statement.

In testimony before
the D.C. Council, James McGarry, policy director for Maryland and D.C. at CCAN,
said, “D.C. has more than enough renewable resources at hand to meet and exceed
the 50% target approved today.”

He said D.C. can meet its higher goal by
tapping just 11% of the wind power already in the PJM Interconnection’s queue,
adding that the District’s total solar potential is 2 GW, or four times
greater than the 5% solar “carve-out” set by the new legislation.

“Washington, D.C. is already seeing a solar
boom, and it’s about to get a whole lot bigger,” said Atta Kiarash,
construction manager at D.C.-based Solar Solution LLC, said in a media report.

The bill now moves to Mayor Muriel Bowser,
whose track record suggests she will sign it into law. Last year, Bowser voiced
support for a 50% renewable energy mandate when she signed a power purchase
agreement with Iberdrola forenough wind power capacity to serve 35% of District electricity
demand.

“The District of Columbia is proud to lead
the nation in the utilization of affordable, green energy that creates jobs
right here at home,” Bowser said in a statement. “The District is well on its way to achieving
the Sustainable DC goal of using renewables to satisfy 50% of DC’s energy
supply by 2032."